WILDCARD WEEKEND RUNDOWN

SportsBeat!

Written by Aaron Cantin

The wildest wild-card weekend ever. That's what is on tap this weekend—six games scheduled with storylines aplenty. Let's just hope COVID-19 does not play a significant factor going forward.

Cleveland Browns Quarterback Baker Mayfield running out of bounds; Photo from The Athletic

Indianapolis Colts @ Buffalo Bills (Sat. 1:05 PM)

The two-seeded Buffalo Bills are rolling. The only thing working against the 13-3 Bills is not earning a true home-field advantage (no fans). That should not slow down the home-side though. The Bills are a -6.5 point favourite heading into the early matchup. The Colts earned a playoff berth and certainly have the pieces to make this a tough matchup. However, I expect Bills Quarterback Josh Allen to be at his best like he has been all season and pull away from the Colts in the fourth.

Prediction: Buffalo 31 - Indianapolis 17

Los Angeles Rams @ Seattle Seahawks (Sat. 4:40 PM)

This will be the third meeting this season between these two NFC West rivals. Each team has a win against each other, adding to the drama. The Seahawks are -3.5 point favourites, and at first look, that seems like a gimme considering Rams Quarterback Jared Goff's status. Goff missed Week 17 after surgery to repair a broken and dislocated right thumb. It appears Rams Head Coach, Sean McVay, will keep us all guessing right up to kickoff. I would imagine Jared Goff starts the game but is not himself. The Rams will keep it close, but Russell Wilson and his receiving core will prevail in the end.

Prediction: Seattle Seahawks 24 - LA Rams 20

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Washington Football Team (Sat. 8:15 PM)

The 11-5 Bucs have to travel to Washington to battle the seven-win Football Team. Washington earned NFC East honours last weekend, taking down the Philadelphia Eagles. The Bucs open as 8 point favourites. Despite the losing record, Washington's defence has been solid all season and may give Tom Brady problems. However, Brady has made a career exposing defences. I expect this to be a closer matchup than most believe, with Tampa Bay having enough weapons to come away on top.

Prediction: Tampa Bay 28 - Washington 21

Baltimore Ravens vs Tennessee Titans (Sun. 1:05 PM)

This has all the ingredients to be the matchup of the weekend and one of the toughest games to predict. The Titans marched into Baltimore last year's playoffs and shocked everyone. The Titans did the same this season, taking down the Ravens in Baltimore. There's nothing more Lamar Jackson and the Ravens want than some sweet revenge. I'm not sure they will get it. The Ravens are -3.5 point favourites, which seems harsh on the Titans. Tennessee running back Derrick Henry can win a game on his own and he may have to on Sunday.

Prediction: Tennessee 35 - Baltimore 31

Chicago Bears @ New Orleans Saints (Sun. 4:40 PM)

Can Bears Quarterback Mitch Trubisky catch fire and pull off the upset of the playoffs? It's unlikely, but the resurgence of Trubisky makes it possible. The Saints are firing on all cylinders, and with Drew Brees back under centre, many think the Saints may be Superbowl bound. New Orleans opens as -9.5 favourites, and I would expect most of the money being put on the Saints to cover. I'm leaning the other way. I think the Bears' defence will make this game tough. Perhaps a big play early from Bears wide-receiver/running back/special teams genius Cordarrelle Patterson will make this thing interesting.

Prediction: New Orleans 24 - Chicago 21

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Sun. 8:15 PM)

I don't know what to say about this one. The Steelers were the best team in the NFL for the better part of the year before falling off a cliff. The Browns are here because they beat the Steelers on the final day of the regular season. Unfortunately, the Browns have been hit by a Covid outbreak, which led to the team shutting down practice this week. Saying that the Browns earned their spot to play on Sunday, and I expect this one to come down to the wire.

Prediction: Pittsburgh 27 - Cleveland 24